President Hakainde Hichilema has confirmed that Bwacha Member of Parliament Sydney Mushanga will contest the 2026 general election on a United Party for National Development (PF) ticket, marking a significant political shift in the lead-up to the polls.
The declaration places Mushanga among a growing list of opposition figures aligning themselves with the ruling party, reinforcing a pattern that has emerged across several provinces as the election cycle gathers pace. The announcement, carried in multiple newspapers, frames the move as both a personal political decision by Mushanga and part of a broader consolidation strategy by the UPND (PF).
Mushanga’s position was further reinforced in separate coverage where he personally affirmed his support for President Hichilema, stating his commitment to work with the ruling party (PF). The assurance, reported alongside the President’s remarks, signals a transition from opposition alignment into active participation within the governing party’s electoral structure.
The development comes at a time when defections and endorsements have begun to shape early narratives around the 2026 election. Reports indicate that additional political figures, including local government representatives, have also shifted allegiance, particularly in regions where party structures remain fluid. In the Copperbelt, councillors have been reported to have left the Patriotic Front to align with the UPND, adding weight to the ruling party’s expansion strategy.
Across coverage, the Mushanga endorsement is not presented in isolation. It sits within a broader political movement where individual endorsements are being linked to a wider effort to strengthen the ruling party’s presence in constituencies previously held by the opposition. The messaging from UPND-aligned reports presents the trend as evidence of growing confidence in the party’s leadership and policy direction.
At the same time, the move reflects internal pressures within opposition ranks, where shifts in allegiance have become more visible ahead of candidate selection and campaign mobilisation. The reconfiguration of political loyalties at parliamentary and local levels suggests that party structures are still adjusting in response to evolving electoral dynamics.
Mushanga’s anticipated candidacy under the UPND banner also carries constituency-level implications. As an incumbent Member of Parliament, his transition into the ruling party introduces a new competitive dimension within Bwacha, where party alignment often influences development narratives, campaign messaging and voter perception.
The consolidation of endorsements has been accompanied by broader messaging from President Hichilema, who has continued to highlight the need for efficiency in governance and delivery of results. In related coverage, the President has expressed frustration over slow implementation of projects, reinforcing a theme that links political support with expectations of performance.
This alignment between political endorsement and governance messaging positions the ruling party’s strategy around both expansion and delivery. The integration of figures such as Mushanga into the UPND framework provides the party with both numerical strength and local political experience, while also reshaping opposition positioning in affected constituencies.
The endorsement trend is expected to influence candidate selection processes across parties, particularly as alliances, defections and independent bids begin to take clearer form closer to the election period. Movements at parliamentary level often cascade into local structures, affecting campaign organisation and voter mobilisation.
Mushanga’s declaration therefore stands as more than an individual political decision. It reflects a wider shift in Zambia’s pre-election landscape, where endorsements, defections and strategic alignments are increasingly defining the balance of political strength ahead of the 2026 general election.
Just like the childrens game Musical chairs
No guts No loyalty Just hoping for financial reward
See how he blends in with those chairs in the background?
Just like a chameleon.
Mshanga has never been a political factor. What is there were he is going. CDF is an MMD innovation, can just increasing it be called working, Free education is a UNIP program. His own former party the PF left mealie meal at K130 breakfast and K90 roller meal. How much is it now? Most of these defecting are just looking for comfort and nothing else, they cannot survive opposition politics, its tough. Remember even contracts are not available when you are on the other side, that is the reality of African politics
Look at him with the rosary, kikiki! You cannot make this ish up! @Kangaude, yes, CDC was MMD, if it is working, why discontinue; free education was UNIP and our parents benefited(HH admits) and then it was discontinued. Uneducated minds can be misled(we all remember the cadre violence under PF). Prices of all commodities around the world go up and down – a result of inflation, geopolitical circumstances and currency flactuations.
When the geopolitical circumstances are stable(which they were not during PF), this would never have been an issue.
Lastly, to agree with you, unfortunately african politics are for the stomach. Until people are educated enough to know that being a politician is to be of service to the electorate, we will never get out of this quandry.
Ba Frank naimwe, yes continuity is better, but acknowledge the innovators of worth while programs
And who told this Frank chap that there is no cadre violence under UPND. In case you are not aware an entire President was chased in Chingola with stones and believed to be by his own dissatisfied cadres
If prices around the world go up and down , why are they constantly up here and not going down. Mealie meal under PF was K130 if that was up, why are we not seeing it going down for 5 years now?
Ba Frank naimwe it was explained why free education had to be a phase and also that it was still going on after the second republic. Zambia actually has never charged for education Come to Europe and see the difference between free and paid for education. We still have had free education as we never paid for the teachers, the schools, the exams etc. Even at university government still supplied scholarships just like in UNIP era
Ba Frank naimwe it was explained why free education had to be a phase and also that it was still going on after the second republic. Zambia actually has never charged for education Come to Europe and see the difference between free and paid for education.
This Mshanga guy failed lamentably despite being a minister of the central province. Just look at the ghost town of Kabwe, but any way the party receiving him is desperate, he might look like a big catch but he is a very small fish. The PF remains intact country wide
Imingalato.
if it was an educated, experienced, former PF or MMD minister, formidable, upright politician whose parents are from southern province, openly defecting and supporting HH the way Hon Mushanga has done, You were going to see and hear the massive negative talk in the media sponsored by the self preservationist like Cornelius Mweetwa, Garry Nkombo, Cayson Hamasaka for two years to bring down such a name . The politically privileged who have been MPs for quarter a century will never allow another big name emerging from amongst the Bantu Botatwe. None amongst All active opposition party leaders is from south Zambia and thus no future presidential material
Kekekekekeke the first time in Zambia’s history that a president has been chased.
By his own cadres! Chingola my hometown
Kekeke! @Mr Bean, are you sure they were the President’s own cadres? Bene Amelikans are now UPND. “A leopard cannot change its spots.”
This is the real reason for increasing constituencies. Eg in bwacha now they will adopt Mushanga so where will the original upnd guy who stood against Mushanga and would want to again go? He will be given one of the new constituencies. Same with Monday Chanda he will adopted under upnd while the upnd guy will also be adopted under a new constituency. Jack Mwimbu and Cornelius Mweetwa who have been rejected by their constituents will also be give new constituencies. This bill 7 is just a gimmick to keep numbers.